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Azopardi going nowhere as he stands down as PDP leader
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by our Political correspondent
For some weeks now, Keith Azopardi had disappeared from the political forefront, while PDP press releases were being issued by his deputy, Nick Cruz.
It became increasingly obvious that a leadership change was afoot. Yesterday, it was confirmed that Azopardi was standing down as leader,but he is going nowhere as he will stay in the party, but with Cruz as acting leader until a new leader is elected at an AGM to be held in September.
Azopardi says he has taken his decision 'after much reflection.' And adds that he believes there are very good people in the PDP that can take their project forward to different levels. "I make clear that I will continue to support them. I will fully support whoever is chosen as the next Leader of our Party. I will remain on the Executive and make myself available to the Party. In that context and because it is within my area of expertise I will, over the Summer be working on the draft PDP Response to the Consultation Paper issued by the Commission on Democratic and Political Reform." NOT EASY In a statement, he adds: "This has not been an easy decision for me. After more than 20 years in politics, campaigning in 7 elections and standing in 5 elections it is understandably with some misgivings and second thoughts that I take this step. But on balance I do feel it is right for me personally to take a break from frontline politics.
"To a very large extent this is motivated by a very personal assessment of my own motivation in the current political panorama and by my desire to do other things.
"I have always said that I was in politics not for the sake of just getting there or for power but because there was an overall reason to campaign for something. I have never been interested in just getting a seat in the House. In 1996 my rationale was clear - I wanted to help achieve change from where we were as a community - and we achieved that. In 2000 I wanted to carry on with the work we were doing - in constitutional reform, the health service, financial services and heritage. "I am proud of our work in those areas and in our resistance of the joint-sovereignty proposals. I suppose the work that gave me most pleasure was my role in drafting the constitutional proposals and then negotiating our modern constitution over a period of eight years. It was a major step forward on the road to self-government and decolonisation. "I have also had the honour of being one of only five Gibraltarians that have so far, while in Government, addressed the United Nations.
"In 2007 and 2011 my rationale was that we needed to achieve change to adopt clearer policies of social and economic liberalism, push through democratic reforms and combine that with a more conservative handling of public borrowing. The people chose change although not the change that we offered. I respect that decision. But of course the consequence of that is that the political panorama is now very different. There is a new administration with a mandate to deliver its programme for change. It needs time to do so and it is churlish to behave as if the election did not happen. Indeed it is difficult to start issuing press releases left, right and centre when after barely a few months of office it is obvious that some of the causes for deficiencies pre-date the 9 December.
"It is for this reason that the PDP executive decided to give the Government space to evolve its programme and have only issued press releases on matters we have deemed very important. We could of course continue to issue numerous press releases on every issue, but, at least for now, I think the Government should be given some space to carry out its legitimate mandate. And as my own personal assessment is that, so far, they are generally doing fairly well current circumstances do not provide me with a sufficient personal motivation to continue right now. I would rather restrict any contributions I make to specific areas. I stress this is simply my personal view.
FREE TO DO OTHER THINGS
"Secondly I would like to be free to do other things for which I would have little time if I continue in my post. My decision will, therefore, give me the opportunity to concentrate some more time on the academic work I was doing on constitutional and international law, other personal projects and on my professional life. In different measure all of those have been partly abandoned during my time in politics.
"It may be that in a few years time the environment is very different and I feel there is a real driving force and rationale to get fully involved again. I am therefore closing no doors. But for now I do not see that need and so I prefer to pass on the baton rather than go through the motions.
"Having said that I believe the policies that we have spearheaded through the PDP express an inclusive and progressive vision of the future and have an important future in Gibraltar's political landscape. I believe that these ideas have influenced the policies of other political parties and on many occasions have set the agenda constructively. I am confident that this will continue.
"I am not turning my back on public life. I would still, sometime in the future, like to make a renewed contribution and hope to serve the people of Gibraltar again. I still believe in the things we campaigned for - social and democratic change and our rights as a people. There are many ways of contributing to our country other than by being Chief Minister - however much of a privilege and an honour it is to occupy that post. I would be happy to make a contribution again in some shape or form.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank the Executive for its loyalty and encouragement, Party supporters for their help, all those who voted for me, and my family for their support throughout all these years in front-line politics."
07-06-12
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